For this we give thanks …

For many people, Thanksgiving is not only a favorite holiday – it is the favorite holiday. And, why not? On Nov. 24, we will gather with family and friends and be grateful for the blessings we have – as individuals, as families, as members of a great community and country. Plus, we don’t have to buy any presents. For the November issue, we asked four local leaders what they are thankful for this year. Here are their responses …

Thanksgiving truly allows us to reflect on everything we are thankful for. I am thankful for my family and their support. I am thankful for the opportunities we are able to provide our students through the dedicated work of our employees and our community. I’m also thankful for our students and their families; they are the reason for the Arlington ISD exists and their success guides our efforts.

I am most thankful to have the privilege to spend every day working to better the lives of our students, to break the cycle of poverty and to better the future Arlington economy through education.

– Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent, Arlington ISD

Here we are at another Thanksgiving, and I am overcome with gratitude for all of my amazing blessings: good health, a loving family (which includes an encouraging and loyal husband, two smart and spirited daughters), supportive friends who feel like family, a warm home, incredible life experiences, fulfilling employment, our country and so much more.

As we spend time with our families during the holidays, please remember the men and women serving in our armed forces who won’t be at home with theirs. I am certainly grateful for their sacrifice and dedication to keeping us safe. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

– Kimberly Fitzpatrick, Mayor of Dalworthington Gardens

During the 1993 Texas Rangers Baseball Season, club principals George Bush, Rusty Rose and Tom Schieffer brought a “Win Ticket” on me by adding me to the front office staff. As Vice President of Community Development, I was able to build youth ballparks, establish scholarship and mentor programs, build Habitat For Humanity houses, and develop programs for our police officers and firefighters. I treated my position at the Texas Rangers not as a job, but as a ministry. I retired from my “DREAM JOB” in November, 2009.

Fast Forward to March, 2016 … Mayor Williams, the City Council, City Manager Trey Yelverton and Deputy City Manager Gilbert Perales bought another “Win Ticket” on me as the City of Arlington’s Community Relations Coordinator. Once again I have opportunity to work with the outstanding citizens of Arlington as we develop plans and objectives to ensure all of the Arlington citizens realize this is truly the “DREAM CITY”!

I am truly blessed and thankful to have the opportunities I have received from the City of Arlington.

– Norman Lyons, Community Relations Coordinator, Arlington

I am thankful for my family. Our boys are happy, healthy, and are the type of young men who make Cindy and me very proud to be their parents. I am also very thankful for the Mayors who serve the MISD community, Mayor Jeff Williams, Mayor David Cook, and Mayor Ron Jensen.

Each of these men is guided by a deep faith in the goodness of their communities and are leading us in ways that I love. Grand Prairie, Arlington and Mansfield are moving forward in such a positive way, and I attribute that to these mens’ efforts. I am honored to follow the leadership of these good men.